Lynn area retailers, restaurants make final holidays sales push

LYNN – With less than a week until Christmas and New Year?s Eve not far behind, local stores and restaurants are flaunting sales and specials in hopes of drawing in customers during this busy time of the year.Pennyworth?s on Boston Street in Lynn has reduced the prices on all of its merchandise 20 to 75 percent, said owner Lowell Blitt.Ugg boots and North Face outerwear are Pennyworth?s biggest holiday sellers, Blitt said, and this year is the family shoe and clothing store?s most successful financial year.?I don?t know how shopping is overall, but we have two stores, here and in Newburyport, and this has been the biggest year we?ve ever had,” he said. “It?s mainly contributed to having the right item, but also having inventory.”In contrast, Richard Covert, owner of Richard Covert TV and Appliances in Wyoma Sqaure in Lynn, said business has been slow this holiday season.?I don?t want to be negative, but people are going to the big box stores,” he said.His top sellers have been police radios and Blu-ray DVD players, and Covert said he is also offering markdowns on TV sets and refrigerators. Big-screen TVs are at least $100 off the selling price, Covert said, and he is also offering $100 off deluxe Whirlpool refrigerators, with free delivery and removal of the old refrigerator.?The only thing I can say that makes us a little unique, if we have the product in stock, we have the same day delivery and set-up,” he said. “It has been kind of quiet this Christmas, but we expect it to pick up toward the end (of the year) and past the first of the year.”Appliance and electronics store Tri-City Sales, which has a location on Highland Avenue in Salem, has been helping many customers this holiday season, said company vice president Tom Kulevich.?We?ve seen some pretty good floor traffic, some consistent floor traffic,” he said. “There?s a lot of good values out there on the appliance end that people are taking advantage of.”The store?s most popular items have been TVs and Energy Star appliances, Kulevich said.?We have the flexibility to get it to them next day, if necessary, because we own our own delivery trucks,” he said, adding that there is free delivery on purchases over $399.Even though Tri-City Sales is in competition with other larger retailers, Kulevich still thinks that customers are making the decision to patronize local businesses.?We have associates in here that have a combined over 200 years of retail experience,” he said. “We see that the customer base obviously likes to deal with someone local because they?re going to get the service and attention they deserve.”While retail stores are focusing on the final sales push before Christmas, local restaurants are planning for New Year?s Eve, with limited hours around Christmas.The Blue Ox on Oxford Street in Lynn will not be open for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, said chef and co-owner Matt O?Neil, but will have specials on New Year?s Eve. O?Neil owns the restaurant with his wife, Joanna.?It?s our regular menu with a lot of additions you normally wouldn?t see here,” he said, listing specials like lobster and rich cuts of meat.The restaurant is running a gift card promotion for the holidays, O?Neil said, where customers get 10 percent back on every $100 that is spent on a gift card. That value can be used toward the card or on a future meal.Rolly?s Tavern on the Square in Wyoma Square in Lynn has also been seeing swift gift card sales during the holidays.?I?m sure now until Christmas, people will be stopping in to get those last-minute gift cards,” said Wendy Mennino Hayes, co-owner of the restaurant with her husband, Rolly.Rolly?s will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and will not be open on Christmas, but Hayes said she is looking forward to New Year?s Eve when the restaurant?s new addition will be open, which will almost double its occupancy. Specials, such as filet mignon with bernaise sauce, lobster pie and rack of lamb, will be served.Red Rock Bistro on Humphrey Street in S